Pipe-wrench.



VIS

Artnr THOMAS E. SMYTHE, OF ORESTLINE, OHIO.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,023, dated May 28, 1901.

Application filed September 29, 1900. Serial No. 31,566. (No model.)

To r/,ZZ 71177/0711, t mln/y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. SMYTHE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crestline, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Pipe- Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

This in ven tion relates generally to wrenches', and more particularly to a wrench intended for use upon pipes, rods, and the like, and consequently I designate my invention a pipe-wrench.

The object of my invention is to provide a pipe-wrench which can be quickly and easily adjusted for use and one which will be highly etlicient and durable. l

Another object is to construct the wrench of few parts which can be quickly and easily pnt together, thus permittingr the wrench to be made and sold at a low price.

With these various objects in View my invention consists,essentially,ofa shank or handle having a bifurcated head in which the jaws are pivoted, the forward end of said jaws being shaped to engage a pipe or rod, while the rear ends of the jaws are constructed for engagement with a sliding collar moving upon the shank or handle below the `head and adapted to force the rear ends of the jaws apart and bring their forward ends into position to grip the pipe or rod,said jaws being normally opened or spread apart by means of a spring or springs shaped to embrace or surround the member of the head and engage the jaws at points to the rear of the pivots.

My invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings formingapart of this speciiication, Figure l is aperspective View of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, one member of the head being broken away and the collar shown in section. Fig. 3 is an end View. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the head of the shank.

In carrying out my invention I employ a shank or handle A the forward end of which is somewhat enlarged, as shown at B, thus providing a head which is bifurcated, as shown at C, and the sides of the shank orhandle are grooved, as shown at D, said grooves terminating at or leading into the bifurcation Vof the head. The jaws E are pivoted between the members of the head, adjacent to the ends of the head, short rivets or studs E being employed as pivots. The forward ends of the jaws are shaped in any suitable manner to grip a pipe or rod,and in the drawings I have shown one jaw provided with teeth and the other without teeth; butit will be understood that both may be toothed,if desired. The rear ends of the jaws are made tapering, as shown, and the inner or contiguous faces of said ends are notched, as shown at F, and a collar G is arranged upon the shank or handle A, said collar being of such size and shape as to lit between the rear ends of the jaws E when said `collar is forced toward the head B, thus spreading the rear ends of the jaws E and forcing the forward ends together.

The forward end of the collar G is slightly beveled, as shown at G', in order to better engage the notches F with jaws E, thereby holding the jaws securely at any adjustment.

Inasmuch as the rear ends of the jaws are made tapering and their inclined faces adj-a` cent, it will be readily understood that as the collar Gis forced toward the head the forward ends of the jaws will be brought closer together. I/Vhen the collar is withdrawn and slid back, the jaws are returned to their norma] or open position by means ofbow-springs H I-I, which encircle or surround the members of the head and are attached to the jaws at points to the rear of their pivots, as most clearly shown, and when the jaws are opened to their limit their rear ends rest in the grooves or recesses D, produced in the sides of the shank A adjacent to the head B, thus allowing the jaws E to be opened or expanded to a greater extent.

Any suitable stop, such as a pin I, may be employed to limit the backward movement of the collar G and prevent it sliding off the shank or handle A.

By arranging the springs as described they act positively upon the jaws, but do not in terfere with the article to be gripped. If desired, a series of apertures may be made in the jaws to receive the ends of the springs, so that the tension of the springs can be Varied, as described. The jaws being pivoted IOO in the head are always ready for use, and the only operation necessary to adj ust them is to slide the collar up or down.

It will thus be seen that I provide an eX- ceedingly cheap form of wrench which is highly efficient in operation, easily adjusted, and not likely to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pipe-wrench comprising a shank, a handle bifurcated at its forward end, the jaws pivotedin said bifureated end, and having their forward ends shaped to engage a Apipe or rod, the rear ends being notched, a

collar sliding upon the shank or handle andl adapted to engage the notched ends of the jaws, and a spring or springs for opening the jaws, substantially as described.

2. A pipe-wrench comprising a shank or handle, having a bifureated head, jaws pivoted in said head, and having the rear ends tapered and notched, a collar sliding on the shank or handle and havingits forward edge beveled, and a spring conneetingthe rear ends of the jaws to normally hold the forward ends apart, substantially as described.

3. A pipe-wrench comprising a shank or l 

